Scores of people gathered in Minsk Thursday to commemorate victims of Stalin-era repressions, a rare event organised by the opposition which would usually face a tough police response.
About 120 people held candles opposite the headquarters of the Belarussian KGB security service in the capital Minsk before placing the candles on the building's steps.
Numerous [plainclothes police were in the area did not disperse the rally organised by President Alexander Lukashenko's rivals, one of whom was only recently released from prison as the country is trying to mend relations with the West.
The European Union on Thursday suspended most sanctions against the ex-Soviet nation, citing "improving relations" after Lukashenko pardoned all political prisoners remaining in jail since his 2010 controversial presidential win.
Lukashenko rival Mikola Statkevich, who was freed in August, called Thursday's rally to commemorate the victims of political repression.
"We should remember the crimes of Stalinism against the Belarussian people as well as stop the new crimes of today's successors of the executioners," he said at the event which he said he hoped "will expand freedom" in the country.
Lukashenko had practically wiped out all political dissent in the country over the past five years by cracking down on any public protests.
On Thursday however police did not intervene, merely issuing administrative notices to Statkevich and two other opposition leaders for holding an unsanctioned event, which are likely to be followed by fines.
The EU had placed Lukashenko and many Belarus officials on a travel blacklist, but on Thursday suspended the travel ban for 170 people and ended the asset freeze on three entities.
Scores of people gathered in Minsk Thursday to commemorate victims of Stalin-era repressions, a rare event organised by the opposition which would usually face a tough police response.
About 120 people held candles opposite the headquarters of the Belarussian KGB security service in the capital Minsk before placing the candles on the building’s steps.
Numerous [plainclothes police were in the area did not disperse the rally organised by President Alexander Lukashenko’s rivals, one of whom was only recently released from prison as the country is trying to mend relations with the West.
The European Union on Thursday suspended most sanctions against the ex-Soviet nation, citing “improving relations” after Lukashenko pardoned all political prisoners remaining in jail since his 2010 controversial presidential win.
Lukashenko rival Mikola Statkevich, who was freed in August, called Thursday’s rally to commemorate the victims of political repression.
“We should remember the crimes of Stalinism against the Belarussian people as well as stop the new crimes of today’s successors of the executioners,” he said at the event which he said he hoped “will expand freedom” in the country.
Lukashenko had practically wiped out all political dissent in the country over the past five years by cracking down on any public protests.
On Thursday however police did not intervene, merely issuing administrative notices to Statkevich and two other opposition leaders for holding an unsanctioned event, which are likely to be followed by fines.
The EU had placed Lukashenko and many Belarus officials on a travel blacklist, but on Thursday suspended the travel ban for 170 people and ended the asset freeze on three entities.
